The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-15
BLOOD AND IRON.

Wallace p. Reed in Atlanta Constitution.
John Blair came to a sudden halt
in the middle of the road.
"Shall | go on to Bethel church,"
he asked, or loaf about IN the sur
shine?"
Although there was no one in sight,
he spoke aloud.
"What do l care for Old Parson
Dryman?" he continued, He has
frightened all these timid tools so that
they have turned hypocrites to escape
the wrath to come. Well, I'll takemy
chances"
Sturdy, broad-shouIdered, with a
bullet head, a square face, massive
Jaws, a resolute mouth and cold gray
eyes, John Blair looked the very incar-
nation OF strength and courage.
He stood still a moment and glanced
up and down the narrow country
road as it meandered through the
brown and barren fields and rocky
woodlands until itIost itself in the red
hills.
The dilapidated rail fence by the
wavside attracted his attention.
"Just like neighbor Norris he said
with a grim smile. Dick is a fool, of
course, and with such land as that he
couldn't do much, but he could do
better. Look at my place. 1t vas
almost as bad, but / have turned it
into a garden spot"
John Blair leaned over the rotting
fence and critically surveyed the
landscape. The patches ofhalf cleared
land visible in the stunted forests on
the rocky hillside did not promise
much.
GAS | am not going to old Bethel"
said Blair, "Iu do a little explor-
ing"
He cautiously climbed the fence and
started with a swinging stride in the
direction Of the hills.
Two hours later John Blair struggled
up out of the ravine with a brown lump
in his hand. His face was as white
as a sheet, and his eyes blazed with
excitement. He swungh his hat around
his head.
"Gold! Gold Gold!" he shouted.
Then with a scared look he crouch
ed down in the grass, still holding the
brown lump in his hand.
"What a fool l ami" he whispered.
"But nobody heard me. 1t is Sunday,
and my good neighbor Morris is at
church"
He pulled out his knife, and with
the stout blade Clipped off a few
pieces from his mysterious lump.
These he examined closely.
Il was right he almost gasped,
with a sigh of relief. '"This is iron and
nothing else. My mining days in
Pennsylvania taught me something. /
know good ore when ! see it."
Taking the specimen in both hands
he threw it with all his force against a
rock and broke it. He scrutinizedth
fragments.
ut is iron,'' he repeated, "and that
means gold. Yes, goldl" he exclaim-
ed, again giving away to his excite
ment.
Blair sprang to his feet and looked
about him. There was no one to be
seen. Gathering UP the pieces Of his
specimen he walked rapidly down to
q little creek at the feet Of tkehiA and
threw them into the water.
H.
Dick Morris thought that his luck
had changed when John Blair made
him an offer for his farm
There was very little haggling over
terms. Morris was glad to get any
thing, and when he carried home a
thousand dollars in twenty dollar
gold pieces, Mrs. Morris and the three
t~ow-headed children were so much
agitated that their first impulse was
To sit up ali night. They finally COM
promised by going TO bed and remain
ing wide awake until daylight.
The Morrises packed up their house
hold goods and lost no time in trans
ferring themselves to the west. They
were glad to lsave the cid red hills
where they had known nothing but
poverty end toll
Honest Dick Morris ielt some com
FUNCTIONS Of conscience, although he
could not see where he was to blame,
and before his departure hehunted up
John Blair.
sNow, john be said apologeticaIly,
II hope You are satisfied with the
trader
s0h, It will do,S' answered Blair,
putting away at his cob uipe.